Common Core Warriors all over the nation are always watching, reading and learning more about the Common Core. Just when you think you know everything you will ever need to know about education, standards, pedagogy and teaching techniques something comes along and you find yourself on another track altogether.

There are also days and weeks that we can’t help but to place blame. We blame people, administrations, ideologies, and entire eras of education reform.

There is a special place in the blame game of a lot of Common Core Warriors, though. That place is exclusively reserved for Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education. Why does he get claim to the immovable spot on our radar that will always loathe him?

Simply put, he can’t seem to keep his ignorant opinions from spewing forth out of his Joker (ala Batman) mouth.

Just in case we activists on the front lines of education ever get weary and wonder why we are doing this, Arne Duncan steps forward and reminds us of the very reason we are fighting to loosen the clutches of federal government hacks on our school children nationwide.

In the past Arne (I believe we know him well enough to be on a first name basis, now.) has called the opposition to the Core, “silly.” He’s laughed us off and spoken very slowly so that we the people who are inflamed over this latest educational reform move might understand how smart Arne and his cronies are and will just sit back and let him and others do their jobs. You know, for the wellbeing of our children and us. Silly Americans! Why would you ever question someone as brilliant as Arne?

Just look at the track record of his old stomping grounds where he reigned supreme before the jump to D.C. Where was this utopian education paradise he was in charge of? Arne was CEO of education in Chicago, IL. Anyone who knows much about the problems faced in Chicago; know that Arne played a huge role in the unmitigated disaster that is Chicago public schools. He sounds like the perfect man to head up education for the entire U.S., right?

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan told a group of state schools superintendents Friday that he found it “fascinating” that some of the opposition to the Common Core State Standards has come from “white suburban moms who — all of a sudden — their child isn’t as brilliant as they thought they were, and their school isn’t quite as good as they thought they were.”

Yeah. He actually said that. I’m not going to digress to the point that questions his intelligence for saying something like this.

Let’s dissect this ignorant comment, shall we?

“White suburban moms…” Why did we take it down to the lowest common denominator? Why is it about white versus other colors? Because white people are upset? Only white people? And apparently only white, fairly affluent, moms? No, Arne, there’s where you’re wrong. I know, first hand, concerned citizens that are every shade of the rainbow who are against the Common Core. And they’re not all moms. There are many, many dads who are fed up with this radical education reform too.

“All of a sudden – their child isn’t as brilliant as they thought they were.” And now white moms have stupid children? Is that what you’re saying, Arne? I know that the white parents are upset about the Common Core because we don’t like the idea of closing that gap between races, correct? That is, essentially, what he is saying. We like to be better than others and this overly rigorous Common Core brings us down to a level we aren’t happy with! That’s how I read that. He has pegged white parents as racist, no? And that in itself is reverse racism. Ironic. No, not ironic, purposefully stated by Arne Duncan.

“…and their school isn’t quite as good as they thought they were.” Good idea to blame the schools in this argument too, Arne. It is sort of his MO, though. He blamed the teachers for the failure he partly perpetrated in the Chicago public schools.

How incredibly insulting to anyone with a brain in their head! Anyone who has looked at the standards objectively and without personal or political ideology crowding their view can see the standards are subpar and lack content. They are completely empty and that is not by accident.

By using the word “brilliant” when talking about parents’ children in a derogatory manner, Arne is showing distaste and disgust for our kids. We want this man in charge of education for the country?

Our children are smarter than these standards. Our children could run circles around these standards. The standards are purposely vague and arbitrary. They purposely twist words and use confusing tactics to try to trip the child up. This is rigor and deeper thinking? I disagree. This is true stupidity. Perpetrated by the highest education officer in the land.

So with Arne constantly pushing buttons and poking the bear we are continually invigorated in our fight against the Common Core.

You know what happens when you mess with a mama bear’s cubs, right?

Not only do I question the intelligence this man has but I also seriously question the sanity.

About the Author

Oregon PolitiChick Macey France is co-founder of the Stop Common Core in Oregon and is working with parents across the state to educate and help them to learn how to advocate for their children's education. Macey has spoken at many Common Core informational meetings across the state of Oregon.
Macey's articles on Common Core have been picked up by various news outlets and she has been a guest on many radio shows across the nation. Macey's article about The Bluest Eye was featured on a panel on Al Jazeera America and was nominated for a CPAC Blogger Award for Best Sunlight Post of 2013.
Macey is a strong conservative with libertarian leanings, making her more of a "conservatarian." Preserving the constitutional and moral values of that this great nation was founded on for her children is her priority. She is a stay at home mom of two boys who are now in elementary school. As a mom who has always been interested in politics, religion and all of the taboo subjects, she has always had a lot to say about the state of the nation. When she realized the Common Core Standards were not only bad news for children but a government coup over education, she decided to fight back and is now considered one of the nation's leading experts on all-things-Common Core.
When she's not having uncomfortable arguments with strangers on Facebook she can be found spending time with her husband of 15 years and two sons. Find Macey France on Facebook and Twitter: @MaceyFrancePC

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